Somi’s Upcoming Single Sparks Major Controversy

Netizens are not happy with the sneak peek.

Soloist Jeon Somi is set to make her much-anticipated comeback, but it’s already facing some heat online.

On June 22, KST, Somi teased her comeback with a couple of stunning concept  visuals and revealed the title of the single, “EXTRA.”

The singer also teased the track’s lyrics, revealing a line that said, “Tried to give my hunnit to you, but you want that 101.”

The lyrics immediately stirred up some heated reactions on X (former Twitter), with netizens flooding with comments such as “What the f*ck does this even mean?”

While some fans praised the lyricism, pointing out that it could have a very specific or a more generalized meaning. While the former would imply Somi wanted to give her best as a soloist, but her audience still wanted I.O.I (“101”), the latter would mean despite giving her all, the person she was speaking to wanted more.

However, the primary issue netizens expressed with the lyrics wasn’t its meaning but the use of AAVE (African American Vernacular English). Many felt that the usage of words like “hunnit” or the structural format of the entire line seemed out of place for a non-Black artist. Netizens also expressed their overall distaste for K-Pop’s overuse of AAVE despite repeated backlash.

Meanwhile, “EXTRA” is set to be released on July 7, 6 PM KST.